We turned up at Blog Action Day a tad late due to other engagements. By this time, things were in full swing. All the tables were full, the surgeons were talking their stuff and the patients were listening intently on the benefits of blogging. This is exactly how it happened.
Again, it proved a healthy demand for this knowledge exists within the community but we kind of knew that. What the group, and more so, Nick Booth for being the lead organiser, proved was a way of making it happen that proved useful to both attendees and hosts. It wasn’t just a case of filling spaces to satisfy funding requirements. One question came up about how the event was organised so quickly and effectively. I heard Nick mention that it happened because “we’re all networked”.
The event worked well, the people who attended came because they knew, or thought they might gain something from attending. This event didn’t really look at the real crux of the Digital Divide. Exchange the people in that room with people who didn’t want to be there, who couldn’t care less – then what do you do? how can you use the technology to encourage them to be more active? get involved with community stuff? improve their education?
Ideally, those who attended the surgery will take back what they ‘learnt’ to their projects and groups and promote the technology. Hopefully it will encourage further exploration. The event was a great starting point though, and proved what can be achieved with a little organisation and belief.